William Hills have something like it. I think you get your money back up to £25 if they dont run at the festival or a free bet if they run in another race.
He has to fit Augusta Kate in somewhere too and I thought maybe she would head to the mares novice. There's some good mares from different ownerships so I wonder if a couple of them might take each other on.
Barney- thoughts on Champers On Ice for the Kim Muir - surely the stiffer test of stamina the better for him- The pipes alwauys book a decent amateur. Just need to sort his jumping out??
In my opinion anyone who tries to guess what the Pipe’s are up to really is in the wrong game as they are prone to do or try almost anything (and over the years with great success as well). The important thing re Champers On Ice after is weekend run is that despite being beaten over 20 lengths (which, let’s be honest about it, was always the plan) he hasn’t been dropped a single pound by the handicapper! That old boy obviously saw straight through their ruse and kept Champers On Ice unchanged on 143. He’s still entered in 2 Grade 1’s at the Festival, the NH Chase has to be a possibility as well and will have at least 3 handicap entries that I can think of so he could go almost anywhere – if I had to have a punt though it would probably be the 3 mile handicap on day 1 – but the Kim Muir as you mention is another of several alternatives. He hasn’t I see been put in the ‘Grand National’ but you do have to wonder if they will go for the Scottish version later in the campaign a race that novices have a good recent record in. I wonder incidentally, and it is only a wonder, if this race is the real plan re him this term rather than anything at Cheltenham. Not that I suppose they wouldn't be against winning at both Cheltenham and Ayr! I’ve been going on for ages about one who left the county last summer and went to Gordon Elliot – Ned Stark. He would be my idea of the winner of the ‘Kim Muir’ at this stage. He hasn’t been sighted since last April but has a ridiculously low handicap mark.
Monalee 14s for the Albert Barlett now, probably my favourite novice but has bit to find with Death Duty and not sure agree with De Bromhead about him wanting better ground. Keeper Hill now in the Neptune market at 33/1, 40/1 with sportsbook if you can get more than 50p on, Sidney Banks at Huntingdon next week was mentioned for him, would need to win that to run here.
Monalee who won nicely today paid a very handsome compliment to DEATH DUTY who gave him 3lb and a very easy beating previously. AUGUSTA KATE's connections must be happy as well seeing as their mare had Monalee well held in the same race until tipping up at the last when challenging DD. DEATH DUTY starting to look the Festival banker but the Alby is a funny sort of a race where you can get unheralded sorts excelling for the marathon trip and strong pace....Definitely looks one you'll get a much better price on the day at this stage (not running beforehand either).
Even though I'm strongly involved with him for the JLT I can't see a reason not to back YORKHILL now for the Champion Hurdle non runner no bet at 7/2. Hopefully Faugheen does make the gig and it's a case of money back but if not and Yorkhill lines up instead I think he'll absolutely hack up.
I can see a few, hed be at least the same price on the day, and highly likely bigger, if he turns up hes also a very inefficient animal who has no 2 mile form of note, beat a Grade 2 3 miler in a bog in the Tolworth and was tailed off in Punchestown 2m Grade 1 he would be about 6th choice in his yard alone as suitable candidate for the race
Invitation Only's form starting to take a serious upward curve. Will be interesting tosee his next run.
There have been 12 runnings of the ‘Albert Bartlett’ at the Festival. West Approach (157) ALREADY has an official rating superior to 11 of those winners AFTER they were successful in the race!
